Stackable load bearing tray

Abstract

A stackable tray comprising a body formed of rigid plastics material and consisting of a bottom wall integrally formed with opposite side walls and opposite front and rear walls; the front wall, at least, defines an access area to allow removal of articles from the bottom wall when the tray is in a superposed stacked relationship with similarly constructed trays; the front wall has an upper edge defining an enclosed tubular section extending from side wall to side wall to reinforce the tray when in a stacked relationship with similarly constructed trays and to counteract sagging of the bottom wall due to weight of articles placed thereon.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A stackable tray comprising a body formed of rigid plastics material and comprising a bottom wall integrally formed with opposite side walls and opposite front and rear walls, at least said front wall defining an access area to allow removal of articles from said bottom wall when said tray is in a superposed, stacked relationship with identically constructed trays; each said side wall having an upper edge and a lower edge shaped to engage lower and upper edges of identically constructed trays in said stacked relationship; said front wall having an upper edge defining an enclosed tubular section extending from side wall to side wall to reinforce said tray when in said stacked relationship with identically constructed trays and to counteract sagging of said bottom wall due to weight of articles placed thereon, each said enclosed tubular section defining a gas-assisted injection molded chamber, said lower edge of each side wall defining a recessed area to receive therein the upper edge of each side wall of an identically constructed tray therebeneath; said recessed area, prior to a stacking engagement, extending in a plane slightly offset outwardly relative to a plane including said upper edge whereby, during stacking, said upper edge forcibly engages in said recessed area causing an outward movement of said wall to further counteract sagging of said bottom wall due to the weight of articles placed thereon. 
     
     
       2. A stackable tray as defined in claim 1, wherein said recessed area of said lower edge includes a series of ribs displaying a lower sloping edge which is contacted by said upper edge of a lower disposed tray prior to be forcingly engaged in said recess. 
     
     
       3. A stackable tray as defined in claim 2, wherein said recessed area displays, at opposite ends thereof adjacent said front and rear walls, a transverse rib; said upper edge displaying, at opposite ends thereof adjacent said front and rear walls, a recess into which the transverse ribs of a superposed similarly constructed tray are received during stacking. 
     
     
       4. A stackable tray as defined in claim 1, wherein the height of each said side wall is greater than the height of said front and rear walls and wherein the distance between said side walls is greater than the distance between said front and rear walls whereby the trays are nestable with each successive tray when disposed at 90° relative to one another. 
     
     
       5. A stackable tray as defined in claim 4, wherein said front and rear walls display an upwardly extending flange, each flange including, at opposite ends thereof adjacent said side walls, a recess; and wherein said bottom wall includes, adjacent said recess at said lower edge of said side walls, a further recess receiving therein said flanges of said front and rear walls during nesting. 
     
     
       6. A stackable tray as defined in claim 5, wherein each said further recess includes, at opposite ends thereof adjacent said front and rear walls, a block having a sloping face to assist in the nesting of trays. 
     
     
       7. A stackable tray as defined in claim 1, wherein each said side wall includes a series of openings; one of said openings being centrally located and serving as a handle for carrying said tray. 
     
     
       8. A stackable tray as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid plastics material is a high density polyethylene.